AMICUS AI
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes
Are you a practicing lawyer?
Enhance your digital presence and reach by creating a Casemine profile.
Upload pleading to use the new AI search
Cites
Cited by
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. BERNARD MOORE, Appellant.

Weighing all the evidence, the jurors had ample basis to credit the testimony of the two disinterested eyewitnesses and their in-court identifications of defendant, and to reject the testimony of defendant's girlfriend, who was clearly an interested witness ( People v. Cruz, 173 A.D.2d 320). While defendant's girlfriend was unable to corroborate her alibi testimony, the complaining witnesses offered consistent, logical testimony that was corroborated by police witnesses as well as ballistics, crime scene, medical and autopsy evidence. Conflicts in the testimony merely presented factual questions for the jury to resolve ( People v. Jenkins, 174 A.D.2d 379, lv denied 78 N.Y.2d 968). Likewise, the People also provided strong and persuasive evidence from which the jury could reasonably conclude that defendant both personally aided the shooting of the second victim and intended that he be murdered.

With regard to the issue of whether the trial court impermissibly allowed the deliberating jurors to commingle and dine with the alternate jurors, as we noted in our earlier memorandum decision, in the absence of "substantial evidence" to the contrary, there is a presumption of regularity in criminal proceedings ( People v. Richetti, 302 N.Y. 290, 298; People v Harris, 61 N.Y.2d 9, 16), and mere supposition and conjecture are insufficient to rebut that presumption ( People v. Garcia, 203 A.D.2d 72, lv denied 83 N.Y.2d 910). Further, it is defendant's burden to demonstrate that a violation of CPL 310.10 has, in fact, occurred ( People v. Fernandez, 81 N.Y.2d 1023; People v Leon, 209 A.D.2d 342, lv denied 84 N.Y.2d 1034).

In the matter before us, a review of the minutes of the reconstruction hearing reveals absolutely no evidence that the jurors commingled with the alternates. Indeed, the evidence presented, if it demonstrates anything at all, is that the jurors were continually supervised by court officers throughout the lunch and dinner breaks in question. We also find, in view of the Court of Appeals' recent pronouncement, that the defendant's failure to object, or utter a word of protest, renders the issue at hand unpreserved for appellate review ( People v. Agramonte, 87 N.Y.2d 765).

We have considered defendant's remaining arguments and find them to be without merit.

Concur — Murphy, P.J., Wallach, Ross, Nardelli and Tom, JJ.

Use AI to get other relevant cases.

Comments

PEOPLE v. MOORE
(May 16, 1996)